Red-Hot Mario Gotze Could Leave Franck Ribery in the Cold at Bayern Munich

In football, the same logic that applies to good ideas also applies to match-winners. That is: Just as the best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas, the best way to have an in-form match-winner is to have a lot of world-class stars. At any time, someone is bound to show up.

The trouble is, on an individual level, that philosophy is a dangerous one: It means that a truly exceptional player could be merely ordinary in a packed squad. That was the problem for Mario Gotze at Bayern Munich until recently.

When Gotze left Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2013, he looked ready to take the world by storm. Although there were other world-class talents in the BVB attack, each had a clearly defined role. Ilkay Gundogan built play from deep and served as a tertiary playmaker, Robert Lewandowski was the finisher and Marco Reus was the spark-plug, providing a bit of every aspect of the attack. Gotze was the primary playmaker, his creativity and technique a cut above that of any of his teammates.

When Gotze joined Bayern, however, he didn't simply fit into the team. There were Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, Thomas Muller, Mario Mandzukic, Thiago Alcantara and Toni Kroos to compete with for playing time. Overall, the season was a big disappointment for Gotze, who played just 2,806 minutes (per Transfermarkt) and, despite recording impressive goals and assists figures, could be disappointed at having been used only as a substitute in the club's biggest games, particularly in the Champions League.

The player himself admitted to Bild (h/t Daily Mail) in May that he was frustrated with his situation as a substitute. It didn't help that he had been used all over the attack, on both wings and in central roles both as the main forward and as a trequartista.

It seems now, though, that Gotze has finally found his feet at Bayern following his winner for Germany in the World Cup final. After a couple of ups and downs, he's now played a direct part in six of the club's last nine goals in all competitions. Whereas his contributions were numerically impressive last season, they now are crucial in securing results in Bayern's favor. Instead of an extra bonus, he's now the player Bayern look to when they're aiming to score.

Gotze's blistering form has come during a time that Franck Ribery has been sidelined. And it's no coincidence that one has followed the other. For one thing, it's meant that Gotze has been regularly deployed in the same position, a free one between left wing and central attacking midfield. But most importantly, the absence of Ribery, the longest-serving member of the Bayern attack and primary playmaker of more than seven full seasons, has left Gotze with a clear and important role. Now he's the man Bayern look towards to create opportunities in the attacking third. And he's delivered, especially consistently as of late: His goal and assist against Koln on Saturday left him with four goals and two assists in his last five matches in all competitions.

Franz Beckenbauer recently insisted, via TZ (h/t Goal.com), that Ribery and Gotze have different styles, but that does not mean the latter can't replace the former. To the contrary, Gotze is better with his weak foot, is more capable of playing centrally and is more of a direct scoring threat inside the penalty area.

Ribery, of course, has his advantages, particularly his ability to beat defenders one-on-one and the tactical nous and decision-making that comes with experience, but there's no saying Gotze won't be able to develop to surpass the Frenchman in the not-so-distant future. As things are going now, he may already be able to keep Ribery out of the Bayern team even after his competitor returns to full fitness.

Ribery made a triumphant, if brief, return to action earlier this month, scoring in a 22-minute outing against Stuttgart. But with that aside, he's not played since May. Even if he plays well, he'll need to be slowly phased back into the lineup; it takes time to build enough fitness to last for 90 minutes. In the meantime, if he keeps up his form, Gotze may become undroppable.

Gotze's form could pose a problem for Ribery because, although they go about creating play in different ways, the two are similar in function: Both look to pass more than score and both demand plenty of time on the ball.

Whereas Robben and, especially, Muller and Lewandowski are perfectly content to make runs off the ball and be picked out by teammates, Ribery and Gotze are the ones that do the picking out. They become much less effective when starved of possession. Case-in-point: Gotze at center forward last season with Ribery playing in his normal role on the left flank.

Beckenbauer made a valid assertion that Gotze is more applicable according to Pep Guardiola's philosophy, a player who looks to pass his way through defenses with quick one-twos rather than to simply dribble from the wing as Ribery does. And with Ribery set to turn 32 before season's end, it's clear that the 22-year-old Gotze has more of a future with Bayern than he.

On the regular, it may make little difference whether Gotze and Ribery are used together; subtle differences should not affect Bayern's results against the decidedly lesser sides they face in most Bundesliga matches. Guardiola's selection for the tougher games may reveal much about how he sees the two. Just months after lamenting being left out of the starting XI in the Champions League knockout rounds, Gotze may well be on the verge of taking over for the club legend, Ribery. What a difference that goal in the World Cup final made.

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